| In America, 1987 was a breakthrough year for New Order. Having featured the previous Spring on the soundtrack to John Hughes' Pretty In Pink, they now charted high with both the single "True Faith" and the singles collection Substance. Back in the UK, they were already massive and about to achieve legendary status as godfathers of the fledgling Manchester scene. Having gone Top 10 with their last three albums, they now made a genuinely triumphant appearance at Glastonbury Festival, itself hugely popular once more after years of stagnation. Fully repackaged (BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert was originally released in 1992), this recording of that show sees the band allowing old favourites such as "Temptation" and "The Perfect Kiss" to climb and soar, introducing new winners such as "True Faith" and "Touched By The Hand Of God", and ending with a hilariously shambolic cover of Lou Reed's "Sister Ray". Warm and self-effacing, atmospheric yet melodically direct, technologically up-to-date yet still unashamedly emotional, New Order were here at the peak of both their artistry and cultural relevance. --Dominic Wills |
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